Education in Japan
I had the tremendous opportunity to study and be a part of an education system almost 6000 miles away from the United States. During my three weeks in Japan, we were a part of many discussions and presentations with government officials, teachers, and university professors. I would like to take the opportunity to share what I learned as well as provide my perspective about the Japanese education system. Please consider that my observations may not necessarily be similar in all schools throughout the country.
We learned the first day in Tokyo that Japan is under an educational reform. The government in Japan seemed to be very concerned with their current education system for many reasons. First, Japanese officials are very concerned with students’ problem solving skills. They believe that students lack the ability, effort, and attitude to solve problems. In relation, they revealed that Japanese do not like mathematics. They were very interested to hear from us why 70 percent of American students like math. Less than 1 percent of Japanese classrooms use calculators and they still teach third and fourth graders how to use an abacus. The buzzword throughout our lectures and school visits was “educational reform.” They are trying to move away from traditional teaching as well as establishing standards of assessment. Another large concern was the discipline of students. They have recently observed a change in students’ behavior in the classroom.
I visited three schools during my visit to Dazaifu City. We visited an elementary, a junior high, and a high school. All three schools allowed us to freely enter any classroom we wished and tour all areas of the school. This was a unique opportunity and I observed many things.
We visited Dazaifu High School the first day. As soon as we arrived at the school, we proceeded to take off our shoes and put on the slippers waiting for us. I enjoyed walking around the school in slippers all day, even though my heal stuck out the back. In our discussion with the high school staff, they told us that a teacher’s contract day was from 8:45 to 5:30. However, many teachers said they would often stay as late as 8:00. In addition, the teachers noted that they would participate in home visits to all students throughout the summer. I was very surprised to learn that teachers would also go to the homes of students to teach those who had been expelled or suspended during the school year.
The difference between Japanese and United States education was most apparent at the high school level. All high school students take their high school education very seriously. Their career and college plans are dependent upon the test they take at the end of their high school career. It was very common for high school students to regularly spend weekends studying for their college entrance test. Many attend cram schools to help them prepare for the test. Students were very quiet and attentive in the classrooms. They wore black and white school uniforms and boys were not permitted to have their hair touch their ears or their collar. Girls were not allowed to dye they hair or have any type of ear piercing.
The second school visit was at Gakyguoin Junior High School. This particular school consisted of 675 students grades 7-9. We arrived at 8:00 and from 8:10-8:30 we participated in the daily greeting with the student council. The student council, along with us, greeted every student outside the building as he/she arrived to school by saying “Ohayo Gozaimusu” (good morning). Many students eagerly replied a previously learned phrase in English, but were very amused at our Japanese greeting. I was extremely impressed to see the excitement and courtesy of all the students as they arrived to school. At the junior high, we learned that moral education is a very important part of their curriculum. We also learned that teachers are required to move to a new school after 6 years. (I believe this is true at all schools in Japan.) They believe this move will “energize and vitalize” both the teachers and the school. It also allows schools to expose a greater number of teachers to students. The highlight of the day was participating in the Kanji writing session. Kanji is the Chinese symbols of writing that has been adopted into the Japanese writing system. There are over 40,000 Kanji symbols so it is very difficult and sometimes rare to be mastered.
Finally, our last school visit took place at Dazaifu Elementary School. As the bus pulled up to the school, we were greeted by 660 first through 6th grade students waving arms and American flags while reciting English greetings. Most were lined up outside and there were also students waving from the first, second, and third floor windows of the school.
This school exhibited great enthusiasm and students were always busy and eager. The teachers also put in very long days at the elementary school. They were required to arrive at 8:00 and some would leave at 6:00, but most would stay until 9:00-9:30. We observed early in the day that the elementary has ‘expression classes.’ These expression classes teach students proper pronunciation and how to properly use loud and soft voices. They also have voice training before homeroom every morning. I watched three sections of fifth graders loudly chanting a popular Japanese poem.
Later that morning each teacher in my group was picked up by two or three students and brought back to a classroom. I was brought to a third grade classroom and was seated at the front of the room while the class sang me a song and played a song on their recorders. After their entertaining performance, I observed the classroom until lunch. At lunch, all the students took the initiative to prepare for their regular meal in the classroom. I ate with all the third grade students as they appeared astonished I could eat rice with chopsticks. Luckily, I had been practicing now for over a week. Immediately following our lunch, the students began cleaning up the room without any directions. After the post-lunch cleanup, the entire school participated in cleaning the school. Most Japanese schools do not have janitors so the students were on their hands and knees washing the floor, bathrooms, desks, and sinks. There were third graders standing on bookshelves cleaning the walls, sweeping the floor and hallways, and I noticed a couple kids who used a little too much water on the bathroom floor. Their teacher and I laughed, and then of course we helped them figure a way of cleaning up the water. They were very efficient and took much pride keeping their school clean. I remember the high school principal telling us that in 17 years there has never been any sign of graffiti, broken windows, or vandalism at the high school.
Before we left Dazaifu City we were fortunate to be able to hold a discussion with several PTA members. It was very interesting to hear the parents’ perspective about education in Japan. They realized that Japan was in the midst of an educational reform and supported the government. I distinctly recall one moment in the discussion when one American teacher asked a parent about complaining or problems from parents. The parents were very confused about the question asked. We later learned that Japanese parents do not complain to teachers and administration, and especially do not complain or talk badly about teachers in front of their children. Furthermore, complaining is something that is not evident in the Japanese culture. The people have learned to accommodate and avoid confrontation. Furthermore, teachers are one of the most respected people in Japan.
I observed many differences between our education system and Japan’s throughout my visit in Japan. However, I was amazed at how similar our schools are. It was very interesting to observe the teachers from two distant nations learn so much from each other. Studying another country’s education system really broadens one’s perspective about one’s own educational system. My perspective and philosophy will forever be changed, and I hope a part of my experience has been conveyed to you.